Bishop John Magee calls on Greencore to honour redundancy agreement

PRESS RELEASE

5TH DECEMBER 2006

BISHOP JOHN MAGEE CALLS ON GREENCORE

TO HONOUR ITS REDUNDANCY AGREEMENT

The Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, has called on Greencore to pay redundancy to its former workers according to the agreement it entered into in 2004.

In a statement issued from the Cloyne Diocesan Office, Bishop Magee said that he had recently met with a delegation of former workers from the Irish Sugar factory in Mallow, and had fully understood the facts of the case.

Bishop Magee said: “I strongly endorse the Taoiseach’s statement in the Dail on November 22nd last, that the company should honour the recommendations of the Labour Court and pay redundancy under the terms of the 2004 agreement.

“As we approach Christmas, 145 families find their futures in jeopardy due to the intransigence of this company in refusing to abide by the Labour Court ruling. This situation cannot be morally justified.”

The Bishop also appealed to all concerned to bring this matter to a just and acceptable conclusion so that the workers and their families can move forward in security and peace of mind.

Ends 5th December 2006

Further information: Martin Long Director of Communications (086 172 7678)Brenda Drumm Communications Officer (087 233 7797)Fr Jim Killeen Diocese of Cloyne (087 2053938) NOTES TO EDITORS: – The Mallow Sugar Factory is situated in the Diocese of Cloyne and most of the workers would be resident in the diocese.